The Ship Model Forum

Thanks for you detail informations ,Dan k.

We are discussing the problems with designers.

Here is the photo of a forward section of Akagi's flight deck. It is a mix of patterns, though the two plank pattern seems to predominate. So, I guess this amounts to a mea culpa. I'll post this soon on the CASF Akagi/Kaga thread as not all interested parties will see this information here. Kudos to Flyhawk on what appears to be an excellent aftermarket additon for this kit.

(P.S. note -interesting detail in the full photo - just behind the legs of the group of pilots in the foreground, one can see where two portions of deck intersect at a cross deck expansion joint. The planking does not align perfectly between the two sections.)

This may not be the correct thread to discuss other IJN CV flight decks but, since FlyHawk does make aftermarket decks, I’ll bring it up. A two plank pattern is not correct for the follow-on IJN aircraft carriers, starting with Soryu. I have identified a four plank pattern for Soryu, Shoho, Zuikaku, Shokaku & Junyo. While few, if any, clear flight deck photos are available for Hiryu, Hiyo & Taiho, it would seem highly unlikely that these ships would depart from the pattern. The one photo taken on Taiho’s flight deck is clear enough to eliminate a two plank pattern but, there are just too many shadows and obstructions to make out a four plank pattern.

Examples of Soryu and Zuikaku below, planking pattern courtesy of Ed Low:

After a fairly comprehensive review of available Akagi (and Kaga) flight deck photographs, I have come to the surprising conclusion that her flight deck, and that of Kaga, had a mix of planking patterns, both two planks (where the third-most plank repeats the position of the first), four planks (where the fifth-most plank repeating the position of the first), and perhaps even three planks, all occurring within the same general vicinity of the flight deck. I will say that the two plank pattern does seem to predominate.

I did not have time today to scan the best photo illustration of Akagi’s flight deck that displays these patterns; I will hopefully do so tomorrow. I do have photos of her aft flight deck showing a four plank pattern, as well as one from Kaga showing both two and four plank patterns, all below.

It occurs to me that there may have been some uniformity in the pattern within a section bordered by expansion joints (kudos to FlyHawk for correctly providing Akagi’s five expansion joints in her flight deck) but, it would be too problematic to reproduce a deck with competing planking problems. Therefore, a two plank pattern for Akagi and Kaga does seem correct. So, the Fujimi versions are, in fact, probably correct.

I will try tomorrow. Computer offline and am checking in remotely.

Could you offer us the actual pictures about the incorrect place ?

ThankS!

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your attention to our products.

Sorry ,the kit you talked has not in our plans at present.

This looks great but, I have to ask: are you going to follow the same, incorrect planking pattern as the Fujimi kit? The work you did for the Tamiya Zuikaku seems much closer to the mark of a staggered, 5 plank pattern.

Hi Aileen,
Do you have future plans to do a set for Hasegawa Triple Deck Akagi in 1/700?
Thankyou
Joe

That seems to be a great looking set.

Hello Everyone,

Our new item Akagi flight deck will be released on 15th, I am here
to share some pictures with you !







Thanks for your support !

Yours Sincerely,
Aileen